Oh, PUH-LEEEZE!

Is there a soul who draws breath (DO souls draw breath, BTW?) who seriously believes the Republican Party really feels all that badly about this kind of thing?

"The RNC rejects these kinds of campaign tactics," Duncan said in a statement. "We believe this election needs to be about the critical issues confronting our nation."

The statement in question, which was released Monday, said the state party is joining a "growing chorus of Americans concerned about the future of the nation of Israel ... if Sen. Barack Hussein Obama is elected president of the United States."

It also included a photograph of Obama from a 2006 trip to Kenya, in which he is dressed in traditional attire.

Maybe the top of the Party objects to such tactics - but that's the idea: the foot soldiers fling the poo while the guys at the top, including the candidate, appear as responsible and mature. Best of both worlds, as far as they're concerned.

Digby at Hullaballoo did a post on the Cunningham thing the same day I did, and pointed out the principle is already well-established:

In this case, McCain not only gets these insults against both Democratic candidates aired over and over again, he makes himself look good for "repudiating" it. It's "out there" which is the best of all possible worlds.

Those of us who've been following the mores of the Village for a while will also recognize this gambit as an example of "Cokie's Law."

"At this point," said Roberts, "it doesn't much matter whether she said it or not because it's become part of the culture. I was at the beauty parlor yesterday and this was all anyone was talking about."

After all, a similar tactic was used against McCain back in 2000, and why abandon something that works so well?